Water and the Water Cycle Quiz: 15 Nature Questions
Water is essential to every form of life on Earth. Evaporation, condensation, glaciers, oceans… Do you know the secrets of this extraordinary molecule and its never-ending cycle?
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Frequently asked questions: Water & the Water Cycle
Here is a preview of what awaits you in this water and water cycle quiz: 15 multiple choice questions, each with a detailed explanation so you can learn while you play. Here are a few sample questions (and their answers, so no cheating before you play!).
What is the chemical formula for water?
Answer: H2O. The chemical formula for water is H2O: each molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms (H) and one oxygen atom (O). It is the most abundant molecule on the surface of the Earth.
What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by water?
Answer: About 71%. About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, mainly in the form of oceans. However, fresh water makes up only 2.5% of all the water on the planet, and much of it is trapped in glaciers.
What percentage of the world's fresh water is stored in glaciers and polar ice caps?
Answer: About 68%. About 68% of the planet's fresh water is locked up in glaciers and ice caps (Antarctica, Greenland). If all this ice melted, sea levels would rise by about 70 meters.
What proportion of an iceberg is visible above the water?
Answer: About 10%. Only about 10% of an iceberg is visible above the surface of the water. This is because ice is slightly less dense than seawater. This is the origin of the expression "the tip of the iceberg".
What is evapotranspiration?
Answer: The evaporation of water from the soil combined with the transpiration of plants. Evapotranspiration combines two phenomena: the evaporation of water from the soil and the transpiration of plants, which release water vapor through their leaves. This process returns a large amount of water to the atmosphere and plays a major role in the water cycle.
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